The Radio
The Way Forward
Getting The Gear The Aircraft The Engine The Radio Starting Gear The Cost True Story
Next comes the biggest item, the radio.
In the UK, the frequency bands allocated for model aircraft are 35MHz or 2.4GHz and any radio you buy for use with this must be set to this frequency band. It is illegal to operate a model aircraft on the 40MHz frequency band which has been allocated for model car and boat use.
It is crucial that you know the preferred radio gear used by the club and the trainers that you intend to join.
Clubs seem to be split between the "big two", JR/Spektrum and Futaba - D.M.A.C. is mixed with the most experienced trainers/fliers using computerised radio gear which is capable of acting as "master" if you "buddy-box" transmitters - more on this later.
Three things come pretty much into the must have category.
Make sure that the radio comes with rechargeable batteries (and charger) and that the transmitter has dual rates and a training lead socket.
Most sets these days do have all these capabilities but it pays to make sure.
Make sure that the radio is going to be supplied with "everything". This means that you should get:
- A transmitter with a rechargeable battery pack.
- A receiver with a 4.8V or 6v nimh (rechargeable battery) pack.
- Frequency crystals for the transmitter and receiver (not needed for 2.4GHz).
- Four servos with a selection of servo arms and mounting screws
- A switch harness for connecting the battery pack to the receiver with a good harness also having a charging socket.
- A charger which will charge both the transmitter and battery packs at the same time.
For this, you can expect to pay around £160 to £200. However....... you can spend more. Until recently, computerised radio was beyond the price range of most beginners. Now only the cheapest entry level sets are non-computerised , these tend to be too restrictive if you intend to advance in the hobby, many being intended for 'park fliers' having a short range.
You will be better paying a little bit more to get a transmitter with at least 6 channels and multi memory option.
Finally, very few "starter" radio sets have built in failsafes and they are seldom (if ever) supplied as parts of "bundles". Most, if not all, experienced fliers use some method of failsafe whether it's a "built-in" PCM one or a "throttle only" PPM one. If your radio doesn't specifically say that it has a built in failsafe then it doesn't have it. You should then get a "throttle only" one costing you around £15.00 - this will also include a low receiver battery failsafe. You may well find that the instructor you hoped would test fly your model and teach you to fly will refuse to do so if you model does not have a working failsafe. Why? See the two articles B.M.F.A. Bulletin and PCM/Failsafes in our Heads Up! section.